The Queen has earned our loyalty
IN OUR pages today former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier outlines his concerns about the current reputation of the UK Government and whether it can be trusted in future in maintaining normal conventions.
Guernsey suffered worst a few years ago from the very real threat that Conservative backbenchers would have used the weakness of Theresa May’s government to pass legislation on registers of beneficial ownership.
The island being plunged into the middle of a constitutional crisis was only averted by our skilful negotiation and diplomacy, and eventually the UK’s tactical withdrawal of the whole bill.
At times of a vulnerability in the relationship with Westminster, we have cause to be thankful that our constitutional relationship with the UK is through the Crown, not Parliament.
As our Head of State, the Queen has always served her loyal island subjects fairly and well, and the affection and respect of our islands towards Her Majesty is a given.
Our centuries-long links with the English Crown continue to work for us.
But we should never take that for granted, just as we should not take Queen Elizabeth II for granted.
Her six visits to the island are marked on our front page today, and give us an opportunity to recall how Her Majesty has endeared herself to the islands, and our loyalty shown in return.